Reserve fuel system for an automotive vehicle

ABSTRACT

A reserve fuel tank is connected between the fuel filling inlet and the main fuel tank. Fuel enters the main fuel tank via a bypass conduit extending from upper side of reserve fuel tank to the main tank inlet by overflow after filling of the reserve fuel tank. A controllable valve is located in the main tank inlet between the bottom of the reserve fuel tank and the top of the main fuel tank for the release of fuel stored in the reserve fuel tank, when needed.

United States Patent 1 Fallotico RESERVE FUEL SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE vEmcLE Inventor:

The Raymond Lee Organization Inc., New York, N.Y.

Filed: May 11, 1972 Appl. No.: 252,196

[73] Assignee:

US. Cl. 137/572, 137/575, 280/5 A, 220/86 R Int. Cl. 360k 15/06 Field of Search 137/571, 572, 575, 137/576, 351; 220/86 R; 280/5 A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 845,804 3/1907 Martin 137/576X Aug. 28, 1973 2,035,895 3/1936 Kelly 280/5 A 3,586,363 6/1971 Omlid 137/575 2,644,514 7/1953 Potter 137/576 X Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Attorney-Daniel Jay Tick ABSTRACT t cfin of the reserve ffieltank and the top of the rnain fuel tank for the release of fuel stored in the reserve fuel tank, when needed.

2Claims,3Draw1ngFlgum PATENTED AUB28 I975 FIG. 5.

FIGZ

RESERVE FUEL SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thepresent inventionrelates to a reserve fuel system. More particularly, the invention relates to areserve fuel system for an automotive vehicle.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved reserve fuel system for an automotive vehicle which is automatically refilled byfuel 'supplied to the main fuel tank of the vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide areserve fuel In order that theinvention may be readily carriedinto effect, it: will'now'be described withreference to the, accompanying drawing,- wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the reserve fuel system of the invention installed in an automotive vehicle;

-FlG.-2 is a perspective view of the reserve fuel system of the invention as installed with the main fuel tank of an automotive vehicle; and FIG. 3 is a sectionalview of thereserve fuel system of the invention as installed withthe main fuel tank 'of an automotive vehicle.

In the FIGS. the same components are identified bythe same reference numerals.

An automotive vehicle such as, for example, an automobile, truck, bus, motorcycle, boat, aircraft, or any self-propelled vehicle utilizing fuel such as,for example, liquid fuel, gasoline, oil, or the like, has a main fuel tank 1 (FlGS.;-1, 2 and 3) and a fuel filling inlet 2 extending from outsidethe vehicle to facilitate filling of said main fuel tank with fuel for operating the vehicle.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 3 having the reserve fuel system of the invention installed therein. A reserve fuel tank 4 (FlGS. l, 2 and 3) is connected between the fuel filling inlet. 2 and the main tank inlet 13 in a manner whereby fuelpassing through the fuelfilling inlet 2 enters and, fills, thereserve fuel tank 4 before filling the main fuel tank 1.

A valve 5 of any suitabletype- (FIG. 3)'is positioned in the main tank inlet 13 between. the bottom 6 of the reserve fueltank 4 and the top 7 of the main fuel tank I FlGS. 2 and 3).. The valve 5 preferably comprises a spring-biased.valve,.as. shown inFlG. 3, which is normally closed. The valve- 5 is controlled by the operator of the vehicle 3 by -any suitable type of valve control-8 (H08. 2 and 3), such as, for example, anelectromagnetic or mechanical: valve control.

tor of the vehicle 3. ln:the.embodimentof FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve 5 is electromagnetically-controlled by the valve control 8. The valve control 8-is thus connected inan electrical-energizing circuit via electrically conductive leads orlines'9 and 11 (FIGS. 2 and 3 A bypass conduit 12 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) extends from the upper side of the reserve fuel tank 4, above the reserve fuel level, to the main tank inlet 13 below the valve 5. Fuel, indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, passes" through the bypass conduit 12 by overflow after the reserve fuel tank 4 has been filled to the reserve fuel level. The fuel thus fills the reservefuel tank 4to overflowing, as longas the valve 5 remains in itsnormally closed position, and fills the main fuel tank-1 with the overflowing fuel, as shown in FIG. 3.

When the valve 5 is closed, in its normal condition, the fuel is supplied via the fuel filling inlet 2 into the reserve fuel tank'4," filling said reserve fuel tank 4'to overflowing. Fuel then flows, by overflowing, into the bypass conduit 12 through the main tank inlet 13 and fills the'main fuel tankl. When the valveS is opened by the operator of the vehicle 3, the fuel in the reserve fuel tank 4 flows directly into the main fuel tank l -via the If the valve control 8 is an electromagnetic control,

main tank inlet 13.

Thus, when the operator notes that there is very little fuel left inthe main'fuel tank 1, he opens the valve and the fuel from'thereserve fuel tank 4 flows into said 1. A reserve fuel system for an automotive vehicle having a fuel filling inlet extending from outside the vehicle, a main fuel tank and a main tank inlet for directing fuel into the main fuel tank for operating the vehicle, said reserve fuel system comprising a reserve fuel tank positioned above the main fuel tank and connected between the fuel filling inlet and the main tank inlet whereby fuel passing through the fuel filling inlet passes through the reserve fuel tank, filling said reserve fuel tank before fuel flows into the main fuel tank;

valve means in the main tank inlet between the bot tom of the reserve'fuel tank and the top of the main fuel tank;

bypass means extending from the upper side of the reserve fuel tank above a reserve fuel level to'the main tank inlet whereby when the valve meansis closed fuel flows into the main fuel tank via the bypass means after the reserve fuel tank has been filled to overflowing with fuel; and valve control means for controlling the operation of the valve means, the valve control means comprising electromagnetic means controllable by an operator of the vehicle to an open position in which fuel in the reserve fuel tank flows directly into the main fuel tank via the main tank inlet and a closed position in which fuel flows into the main fuel tank only via overflow in the reserve fueltank via the bypass means.

3,754,569 3 4 2. A reserve fuel system as claimed in claim 1, overflowing fuel in the reserve fuel tank to flow into the wherein the bypass means comprises a bypass conduit main fuel tank bypassing the valve control means holdextending from the upper side of the reserve fuel tank ing reserve fuel in the reserve fuel tank. above the fuel level to the main tank inlet allowing 

1. A reserve fuel system for an automotive vehicle having a fuel filling inlet extending from outside the vehicle, a main fuel tank and a main tank inlet for directing fuel into the main fuel tank for operating the vehicle, said reserve fuel system comprising a reserve fuel tank positioned above the main fuel tank and connected between the fuel filling inlet and the main tank inlet whereby fuel passing through the fuel filling inlet passes through the reserve fuel tank, filling said reserve fuel tank before fuel flows into the main fuel tank; valve means in the main tank inlet between the bottom of the reserve fuel tank and the top of the main fuel tank; bypass means extending from the upper side of the reserve fuel tank above a reserve fuel level to the main tank inlet whereby when the valve means is closed fuel flows into the main fuel tank via the bypass means after the reserve fuel tank has been filled to overflowing with fuel; and valve control means for controlling the operation of the valve means, the valve control means comprising electromagnetic means controllable by an operator of the vehicle to an open position in which fuel in the reserve fuel tank flows directly into the main fuel tank via the main tank inlet and a closed position in which fuel flows into the main fuel tank only via overflow in the reserve fuel tank via the bypass means.
 2. A reserve fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass means comprises a bypass conduit extending from the upper side of the reserve fuel tank above the fuel level to the main tank inlet allowing overflowing fuel in the reserve fuel tank to flow into the main fuel tank bypassing the valve control means holding reserve fuel in the reserve fuel tank. 